Investigations reveal how organized crime uses WhatsApp to do business openly

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In one of the investigations into the involvement of Espírito Santo drug traffickers in crime in Rio, Espírito Santo police discovered a parallel network of negotiations underway in the city. The material shows how criminals use technology to increase profits, transact between different factions and promote products.

Thanks to the violation of the telephone secrecy of a local drug trafficker, the police gained access to at least six different groups: Desapegando do Complexo, Tropa do Grau, Joga pra Rolo RJ 2.0, Joga pra Rolo 2.0, Bom Negócio da Maré and Mercado Negro Zona Norte.

The report, to which GLOBO had exclusive access, shows that the products were resold to different criminal organizations, such as Comando Vermelho (CV), Primeiro Comando Puro (TCP) and Amigos dos Amigos (ADA). In one of the groups, one of the members advised members of a certain faction to “buy into the place,” referring to the negotiation priority within the organization itself. However, the post also said sales were open to members of rival gangs.

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“Brother, I am an administrator and I come from Nova Hollanda. There are people here who do not have a faction. For those who follow, just buy in the square. For those who do not, a big hug and continue in peace. The safety of all, whether CV, TCP, ADA”, wrote the administrator of the Joga pra Rolo 2.0 group, in a message sent on September 30 to the 128 members.

For investigators, the message establishes guidelines for negotiations and ensures that transactions take place regardless of the criminal faction, which contributes to the strengthening of organized crime.

“The content of the messages exchanged in the Joga pra Rolo 2.0 group reveals that the main purpose of the space is the purchase and sale of weapons, drugs and other illicit materials, enabling drug trafficking, homicides and actions against the public security forces of the State of Rio de Janeiro,” indicates an excerpt from the investigation.

A conversation obtained by police shows one of the group, identified as “God is Fidel”, offering weapons, ammunition and military equipment. In the message sent on January 23 this year, he wrote: “Accessories and parts for rifles and pistols, best price here.”

Items for sale include slings, holsters, radios, vests, camouflage clothing, rifle scopes, grenades and tactical clothing. Ammunition is also available in 9mm, .40, .380, .45 and 7.62 calibers.

All ads are accompanied by heart emojis and happy faces, which the researchers say reinforces “the habit and naturalization of these transactions in the group environment.”

Medicines are offered at different times of the day, with advertising and photos. “Top marijuana, fair price, come on,” one user wrote in a message sent on October 30 last year. At that time, a kilo of drugs was offered to the group for around R$1,200.

The offer was announced to more than 1,400 members. According to police, by the end of last year the group had accumulated more than 50,000 messages, the majority aimed at the supply of drugs and weapons.

Thanks to one of the sellers, identified in the groups as “Marrento”, the police were able to trace the progress of the negotiations for the purchase. The promotion of the drug within the group and the effective management of the sale were initiated by private messages. Then the delivery was scheduled and the pickup took place in the Nova Holanda favela.

Wanted by the police, free in Whatsapp groups

In another investigation, the Rio Civil Police obtained the cell phone used by Carlos da Costa Neves, Gardenal, one of the leaders of the CV, still at large. He was one of the targets of the mega-operation carried out in the Penha and Alemão complexes in October, but was not found by the police. As revealed by GLOBO, analysis of the device shows that the faction has a network of scouts distributed throughout the city who monitor the movements of police troops and even the army and the public prosecutor throughout Rio.

Extraction of the contents of the cell phone shows that Gardenal also controlled the smoking rooms, even remotely. He accompanied the movement from Morro do Juramento, to Vicente de Carvalho, by FML Juramento and CP J2. The Guaporé and Quitungo favelas, in the North zone, were monitored through two other groups: “Diretoria QTG GP” and “Família Quitungo & Guaporé”.

But drug trafficking is not the only one to take advantage of new technologies to manage its activities. An investigation by the 14th DP (Leblon) revealed that a gang specializing in the theft of jewelry and luxury watches had planned the crimes via Whatsapp. Fabio Aguiar Correa, Luis Henrique da Silva, Magrão and Bruna França Nunes were found guilty of robbing a pedestrian on Rua Professor Arthur Ramos, in Leblon, southern zone of Rio, last year. According to the investigation, the trio monitored the victim until they approached him to steal a Rolex and a gold ring worth R$64,000.

After the arrest, Bruna admitted at the police station that the trio were preparing for thefts by creating groups on Whatsapp. After the crime, they erased the evidence “so there would be no more clues.” His role was to identify potential victims and follow them until the men robbed them. Subsequently, a partner sold the equipment in Uruguaiana, in the Center.

Amid discussions between privacy and confidentiality violations to combat criminal practices, Daniel Hirata, coordinator of the Study Group on New Illegalisms at the Federal University of Fluminense (Geni/UFF), explains that it is necessary to discuss ways to enable rapid investigation of criminal offenses.

— Everything has changed with these new technologies, and it was to be expected that crime would be no different. There are two aspects: the first is the use of these new forms for instant and rapid communication, with effective time management for these criminal enterprises. But there is also another type of appropriation that changes the nature of criminal activity, such as the delivery of drugs and weapons, Internet sales and even certain types of fraud that have begun to occur in the virtual world, he explains.

Filipe Medon, professor of civil law at FGV Direito Rio and researcher at the Technology and Society Center of the same institution, explains that advances in encryption in applications prevent classic interceptions, as in the past by telephone.

The Federal Court is still debating whether or not companies are required to break encrypted conversations and hand over the data to law enforcement authorities.

— It’s a case of split bullet. There is an argument that companies must create a mechanism to allow for a possible breach of confidentiality to suppress a crime. Another line, regarding privacy, says that if you open it to someone, you can open it to others, Medon explains. — In this case, over time, people could lose the confidence to communicate with the certainty that no one on the other end of the line is reading their conversations and preventing them from exercising their freedom.